Electric circuit board and connectors therefor

ABSTRACT

An electric circuit board for toy, kit or general use characterized in the provision of a plurality of contact terminals arranged in one or more parallel rows such that each terminal is spaced from an adjoining terminal a fixed predetermined distance, a first plurality of terminals having a first given diameter, corresponding to the loop formed at one end of a conventional paper clip, and a second plurality of terminals alternately spaced with respect to said first plurality of terminals being of a second effective diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of a second end loop of the same paper clip, so that any pair of juxtaposed terminals may be interconnected for the conducting of a current therethrough by slipping the ends of the paper clips over said terminals to be resiliently retained thereby. In one embodiment of the invention, the terminals are provided with one or more parallel grooves extending into the cylindrical surface of the terminals to utilize the axial component of resiliency present in the paper clip.

United States Patent Primoff et al.

[541 ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BOARD AND CONNECTORS THEREFOR [21] Appl. No.: 128,610

[52] US. Cl ..339/l8 C, 35/19 A, 29/625, 174/68.5, 3l7/l01,339/222, 339/248 R [51] Int. Cl. ..H0lr 25/00, H05k 1/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..l74/68.5; 35/19 A; 317/101 C,

317/101 CC, 101 CE; 339/17 R, 17C, 18 R, 18 B, 18 C, 222, 248 R; 29/625-627 [56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,477,653 8/1949 Roane ..35/l9 A 3,486,160 12/1969 Wallace, Jr ..339/18 C X [4 1 May 16, 1972 Primary Examiner-Darrell L. Clay AttarneyCharles E. Temko ABSTRACT An electric circuit board for toy, kit or general use characterized in the provision of a plurality of contact terminals arranged in one or more parallel rows such that each terminal is spaced from an adjoining terminal a fixed predetermined distance, a first plurality of terminals having a first given diameter, corresponding to the loop formed at one end of a conventional paper clip, and a second plurality of terminals alternately spaced with respect to said first plurality of terminals being of a second etfective diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of a second end loop of the same paper clip, so that any pair of juxtaposed terminals may be interconnected for the conducting of a current therethrough by slipping the ends of the paper clips over said terminals to be resiliently retained thereby. In one embodiment of the invention, the terminals are provided with one or more parallel grooves extending into the cylindrical surface of the terminals to utilize the axial component of resiliency present in the paper clip.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BOARD AND CONNECTORS THEREFOR This invention relates generally to the field of electric or electronic terminal boards, and more particularly to an improved form thereof suitable for use as components of toys, experimental kits, or for general use. More particularly, it relates to a terminal board having terminal members thereon particularly adapted to be engaged by the looped end portions of a conventional elongated type paper clip, whereby a connection and disconnection may be accomplished without the use of tools, and by those possessing only ordinary skills.

It is among the principle objects of the present invention to provide a circuit board of the class described, in which the terminals thereof are particularly adapted to receive a conventional paper clip in resilient engagement.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved terminal board of the class described in which the terminal members thereof are so arranged that every other terminal member is of a first given diameter, with the remaining terminal members positioned therebetween of a second given diameter, the diameters corresponding to the radii of the loops formed at each end of an elongated paper clip.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved electric terminal board which may be conveniently manufactured at relatively low cost, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the disclosed embodiments lies in the provision of means whereby the terminal members may be resiliently maintained in position upon an insulative board, and the connectors resiliently maintained in position upon the terminals, so that neither the assembly of the board, nor the interconnection of the terminals thereof requires other than manual manipulation.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a circuit board embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, as seen from the plane 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation of one of a first plurality of terminals forming a part of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a similar view in elevation showing one of a second plurality of terminals.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation corresponding to the upper left hand portion of FIG. 1, and showing a plurality of conventional paper clips engaging certain adjacent terminals thereon.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to that seen in FIG. 2, and showing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to that seen in FIG. 2, and showing a third embodiment of the inventIOI'I.

FIG. 8 is a view in elevation showing a conventional paper clip suitable for use with any of the disclosed embodiments.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, includes a generally planar board of insulative material, bounded by side edges l2, 13, 14, and IS, an upper surface 16, and a lower surface 17 a plurality of substantially uniformally sized bores 18 extends between the upper and lower surfaces 16-17, and are arranged in parallel rows of equal length, each bore being equidistant from each other bore adjacent thereto.

A first plurality of terminals (see FIG. 3) is positioned within every other of the bores 18, and includes an elongated shank 21, a flange portion 22 adapted to rest on the upper surface 16, and an exposed connecting portion 23 of first given diameter. A second plurality of terminals 25 (FIG. 4) is of generally similar configuration, including an elongated shank 26, a flange portion 27 and an exposed connector-engaging portion 28. The diameter of the portion 28 is somewhat larger than that of the portion 23, for reasons which will more fully appear hereinafter.

Refen'ing to FIG. 8 in the drawing, there is illustrated a conventional elongated-type paper clip, of a configuration most commonly used. The clips are formed from a continuous segment of steel wire, and thus possesses a substantial degree of resiliency between the individual bent segments thereof. As is known in the art, each clip includes a first rectilinear portion 31, a large end bend portion 32, a second rectilinear segment 33, a small end bend portion 34, a third rectilinear segment 35, a small interior loop 36 and a fourth rectilinear segment 37. Depending upon the exact configuration of the clip, with which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, the loop 36 is utilized to assist inmaintaining an interconnecting function, again as will more fully appear.

Referring to FIG. 5, each terminal 38 of relatively large diameter is disposed adjacent a terminal 39 of relatively smaller diameter, the space between the axes of each being the same as the distance between the center of curvature of the bend portions 32 and 34 of the clip 30. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, two clips 30 are employed to interconnect three terminals, one clip being placed over the other clip on the terminal 39. Depending upon the height of the terminals, as many as three or more clips may be engaged at the same time, although normally owing to the fact that no more thanfour terminals will be adjacent any one terminal, the need for greater than four clips will not normally occur.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a second embodiment of the invention, in which the board 44 is similar, and in which each of the first and second pluralities of terminals of 45 and 46, respectively, are provided with one or more parallel grooves 47 the plane of which is perpendicular to the principal axis of the terminal. This construction provides for the outside diameters of the cylindrical surfaces of the terminal members to be slightly greater than the unstressed radius of the end bend portions of the clip, engagement of the bend portions within the grooves allowing the bend portions to return to a relatively unstressed condition.

In the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the terminals 51 include a shank portion 52 provided with an enlargement 53, and are used in conjunction with a board 50 of material possessing a degree of resiliency. The enlargements 53 are passed through the bores 54 with a small degree of accompanying distortion of the latter, and the terminals become fully seated with the engagement of the enlargements 53 with the lower ends 55 of the respective bores 54.

The free ends of the shank portions of the terminals are engaged in well-known manner either with conductors, or socalled alligator clips in well-known manner to complete a circuit or plurality of circuits (not shown) conventionally associated with the circuit boar It will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, that the cross-section of the terminals may be round (circular) or have a plurality of symmetrical sides to form a polygonal cross-section. If desired, the terminals may be magnetized to enhance a snug connection.

Referring again to FIG. 5 in drawing, it will be observed that the small interior loop portion 36 is illustrated as contacting on its outer surface thereof a portion of the terminal which it engages. In some paper clips manufactured in this country, the position of this loop is such that the engaging surface forms a tangential contact with the terminal when the inner surface of the large end bend portion 32 is in contact with the terminal. Where the clips employed are of other dimensions, the function of the interior loop 36 is lost, but normally the resiliency of the outer loop portions is adequate to assure proper conduction of electricity through the clip. This effect may be enhanced by forming the connector-engaging portions to have a fine degree of taper, in which the outer end is slightly below the nominal radius of the respective end bend portion with which it is engaged, and the base thereof is slightly greater. Where grooves are provided, as in the case of the second embodiment, this construction is normally unnecessary.

It is to be understood that it is not considered that the invention lies within the specific details of structure shown and described in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combination electric circuit board having a plurality of terminals for selective interconnection, and means for interconnecting adjacent terminals for electric conduction therethrough, the improvement comprising: said board having a first plurality of terminals of generally cylindrical configuration having a first diameter, and a second plurality of terminals alternately positioned with respect to said first plurality of terminals, and having a second diameter, said terminals being mutually spaced a fixed predetermined distance, said means for interconnecting said terminals including at least one elongated conductive paper clip having first and second looped ends, one end of which is resiliently engaged with one of said first plurality of terminals, and a second end of which is resiliently engaged with an adjacent one of said second plurality of tenninals.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said first and second pluralities of terminals are arranged in mutually parallel rows with any one of said first plurality of terminals being adjacent at least two of said second plurality of terminals to permit simultaneous engagement therewith using a pair of paper clips.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 1, further characterized in that said terminals are of elongated cylindrical configuration having a principal axis, and having at least one groove in the outer surface thereof substantially perpendicular to said principal axis.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 3, including a plurality of parallel grooves in the outer surface of said terminals.

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1. In a combination electric circuit board having a plurality of terminals for selective interconnection, and means for interconnecting adjacent terminals for electric conduction therethrough, the improvement comprising: said board having a first plurality of terminals of generally cylindrical configuration having a first diameter, and a second plurality of terminals alternately positioned with respect to said first plurality of terminals, and having a second diameter, said terminals being mutually spaced a fixed predetermined distance, said means for interconnecting said terminals including at least one elongated conductive paper clip having first and second looped ends, one end of which is resiliently engaged with one of said first plurality of terminals, and a second end of which is resiliently engaged with an adjacent one of said second plurality of terminals.
 2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said first and second pluralities of terminals are arranged in mutually parallel rows with any one of said first plurality of terminals being adjacent at least two of said second plurality of terminals to permit simultaneous engagement therewith using a pair of paper clips.
 3. Structure in accordance with claim 1, further characterized in that said terminals are of elongated cylindrical configuration having a principal axis, and having at least one groove in the outer surface thereof substantially perpendicular to said principal axis.
 4. Structure in accordance with claim 3, including a plurality of parallel grooves in the outer surface of said terminals. 